Iontophoresis device and electric power source for an iontophoresis device

Abstract

A drug may be administered in accordance with a daily living pattern of a patient and/or a circadian rhythm of the drug. An iontophoresis device includes a working electrode assembly and a non-working electrode assembly for administering a drug by iontophoresis and an electric power source connected to the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly. Current control circuitry programmably controls a current that flows to each of the electrode assemblies according to a set pattern, and the drug is released based at least in part on the current.

1  An iontophoresis device, comprising:
 a working electrode assembly and a non-working electrode assembly for administering a drug by iontophoresis;   an electric power source connected to the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly; and current control circuitry coupled to the electric power source and operable to programmably control a current that flows to each of the electrode assemblies according to a set pattern;   wherein the set pattern of the current control circuitry is rewritable from outside the iontophoresis device without the contact; and   wherein the drug is released based at least in part on the current.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are each of a type. 
   
   
       4 . The iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly comprises:
 a working electrode connected to the electric power source with  a same polarity as that of a charged ion of the drug;   an electrolyte solution holding portion holding an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion adjacent a front surface of the working electrode;   a second ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having a polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug, the second ion exchange membrane adjacent a front surface of the electrolyte solution holding portion;   a drug solution holding portion holding the drug, the drug solution holding portion adjacent a front surface of the second ion exchange membrane; and   a first ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having the same polarity as that of the charged ion of the drug, the first ion exchange membrane adjacent a front surface of the drug solution holding portion; and wherein   the non-working electrode assembly comprises:
 the non-working electrode connected to the electric power source having the polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug; 
 a second electrolyte solution holding portion holding a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution holding portion adjacent a front surface of the non-working electrode; 
 a third ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having the same polarity as that of the charged ion of the drug, the third ion exchange membrane adjacent a font surface of the second electrolyte solution holding portion; 
 a third electrolyte solution holding portion holding a third electrolyte solution, the third electrolyte solution holding portion adjacent a front surface of the third ion exchange membrane; and 
 a fourth ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having the polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug, the fourth ion exchange membrane adjacent a front surface of the third electrolyte solution holding portion. 
   
   
   
       5 . An electric power source device for an iontophoresis device having a working electrode assembly and a non-working electrode assembly for administering a drug by iontophoresis, the electric power source device comprising:
 a battery;   current control circuitry operable to programmably control a current from the battery to each of the electrode assemblies according to a set pattern; and   an antenna operable to receive a signal used to rewrite the set pattern of the current control circuitry without contact.   
   
   
       6 . The electric power source device of  claim 5 , wherein the current control circuitry is disposed radially outside the battery and side by side next to the battery. 
   
   
       7 . The electric power source device of  claim 4 , wherein the battery is disposed off center from the working electrode assembly, and the current control circuitry is disposed next to the battery on a side of the battery closer to a center of the working electrode assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The electric power source device of  claim 4 , wherein the current control circuitry is disposed on top of the battery.